Rubber heel



J 1940. c. F. SNYDER 2,205,912

Patented June 25, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to what are commercially known as rubber heels of a character particularly designed to be attached to leather heels of shoes, boots, and the like.

The present invention contemplates a rubber heel having a tread surface provided with one or more portions for taking care of maximum wear to which the heels are subjected to in use, while at the same time providing cooperating means on the tread surface that will afford maximum resistance to slipping when the wearer presses down on the heel tread in the act of walking.

Heretofore, rubber heels have been designed and manufactured primarily for providing a desirable cushion effect and as such have proven highly advantageous, but, so far as I am aware, the tread surfaces thereof have not proven satisfactory for affording resistance to slipping. particularly on wet or icy surfaces.

Among the primary objects of my invention are, to provide a new and improved resilient heel having means on the tread surface for preventing slipping; and to form the tread surface of such character, including ribs and grooves, that the tread surface may be treated, after it has become more or less worn, in a simple manner to restore it to its original efficiency.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates applications of my invention:

Fig. 1 is a bottom plan view of a right heel embodying my invention;

Fig. 2, an elevational edge view of the heel;

Fig. 3, a sectional view, the section being taken on the liner-a: of Fig. 1; and

Fig. 4, a bottom plan view of a modified form of heel embodying my invention.

Referring to the drawing and first to the form of Figure 1, 5 designates the body of the heel formed of rubber or some suitable resilient composition or material and of any preferred form adapted for application to a heel-lift or a cutaway leather heel of a shoe, boot or the like.

As illustrated and as preferred, the tread surface is formed with a series of diagonally extending curved ribs 6 and a series of curved continuous grooves 1 separating the ribs. The curvature of the grooves I corresponds with the curvature of the ribs, which rib and groove design is such that it may be utilized for forming the tread surface on a heel adapted to be attache to either a right or left shoe or boot.

The side walls of the grooves I are slightly inclined as shown by the numeral 8 for the purpose of producing a wedging effect when pressure is applied to the tread surface, thus effectively cooperating with the flat contacting facesof the ribs in resisting slippage.

As preferred, the diagonally disposed grooves and ribs extend' from the forward edge or breast 9 of the heel and the forward portion of the outer edge l0 rearwardly and inwardly toward the inner edge ll thereof, being transversely disposed with respect to a line H extending from the front inner corner I 2 through the rear outer marginal portion I3 of the said heel. The latter portion I3 is ungrooved and has a flat wear-resisting area extending partially along the rear and outer edges of the heel so as to provide. a wear-resisting tread portion at the region of greatest wear, the same-being located at the point of initial contact of the heel with the ground in the act of walking.

The portion l3 and a frontal flat portion H at the inner corner ii of the heel are located on opposite sides of the groove and rib portion thereof, and serve to stabilize the weight distribution upon the said ribs and grooves, preventing undue deformation thereof while permitting the ribs to properly flex in gripping contact with the ground.

My improved heels may be readily constructed as rights and lefts, with the diagonal disposition of the ribs and grooves being oppositely re- 'lated on right and left heels. The bottom plan view of Fig. lillustrates a right heel.

It will be noted that my improved tread embodies a construction that will permit a ready deepening of the grooves after the rib contacting faces have worn away to some extent, thereby restoring a worn and used heel to its initial efficiency.

In the form of Fig. 4, instead of making the ribs and grooves curved as in the form of Fig. 1 the ribs in are approximately straight. Like wise, the intervening grooves la are diagonally disposed straight or parallel grooves.

In both forms the rubber heels are adapted to be attached to the leather heel by means of nails or other suitable means 15 adapted to be placed in the grooves and then driven home in a convenient manner.

I claim:

A rubber heel for shoes having a tread surface provided with a flat marginal wear-resisting portion located at the outer rear portion of the heel and provided with another flat marginal wear-resisting portion and located at the breast inner corner spaced from the first mentioned wear-resisting portion, diagonally disposed ribs and grooves extending from the breast and outer-, edge of the heel rearwardly and inwardly toward the inner edge substantially across the tread surface, said ribs and grooves located between the wear portions and covering the balance of the tread surface between the said wearresisting portions.

CHARIES F. SNYDER. 

